Summer is my favorite time of year. Growing up in SoCal, summer was filled with beach days, laying out at the pool, sunsets at 8:30 PM, family vacations, and my favorite… the heat!! I was VERY lucky to have an active mom who took us on all kinds of adventures while my dad was stuck at work; it’s safe to say we never had a “lazy” day at home! But through all the outdoor activities, beach days, and fun camps, my mom ALWAYS made us participate in the Summer Reading Program at the Aliso Viejo Public Library. Not exactly how my brothers and I wanted to spend our vacation AWAY from school, but of course we went.
The library gave each of us a worksheet to write down all the books we read, and we even got prizes along the way! Most children lose some of their reading skills during the summer because they are not practicing daily. It is so easy to pick up a book and read for 30 minutes a day, yet many parents do not know how to encourage their children to do this. Check in with your local library and see what programs they offer. It is a fantastic way for the kids to maintain their reading skills and have fun at the same time! – Natalia